Railway signal apparatus.



No. 698,269. Patented Apr. 22, I902.

L. GACHET.

. RAILWAY SIGNAL APPARATUS.

(Application filed Nov. 8, 1900.)

6 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR Laarizt er ATTORNEY3.

No. 698,269. Patented Apr. 22, I902.

' L. GACHET.

RAILWAY SIGNAL APPARATUS.

(Application filed No v. 3, 1900.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Mar/v5.93.-

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No. 698,269. 2 Patented Apr. 22,1902.

L. GAGHET. y

' RAILWAY SIGNAL APPARATUS;

(Application filed Nqv. 8, 1900.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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I THE ohms PEI'ERG co. PNOTO-LITHQ. wnsumomn, 04 c.

No. 698,269. Patented Apr. 22, m2.

|.. GACHET.

RAILWAY SIGNAL APPARATUS.

(Application filed Nov. 3, 1900.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets8heet 4.

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A TTOHNEYS No. 698,269. Patented Apr..22, I902.

L. GACHET.

RAILWAY SlGNAL'APPARATUS.

(Application filed Nov. 3, 1900.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

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Patented Abr. 22, I902. L'. GACHET.

' RAILWAY SIGNAL APPARATUS;

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(Application filed Nov. 3, 1900.) (N0 Model.)

" apparatus.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAURENT GAOHET, OF'PARIS, FRANCE.

RAILWAY SIG NAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 698,26 dated April1902- Application filed uovembera 'oo. Serial No. 35.374. on model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I,LAURE1 IT GAQHE'r, a subject of the King of Italy,residing'in Paris, France, have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsdn Railway Signal Apparatus, of which the following isaspecification. I The object of this invention is to provide means forindicatingat all times to the engineer in charge of a locomotive whetherthe track upon which he is running is clear for some distance or whetherthe same is not clear and caution must be exercised to avoid a collisionor danger of a collision with a train ahead traveling either in the sameor opposite direction. j

The object of the invention is, further, to provide means for indicatingto the engineer in case the track is not open whether a train ahead ismoving in the same or in opposite die rection. i

For these purposes the invention consists in .the combination, withcertain signaling devices located upon the locomotive, of a source ofelectricity also carried thereby, circuit closers of certain peculiarconstruction lo-' cated one at each side of the locomotive, and trippingmechanisms arranged adjacent the railroad-track and in the path of saidcircuitclosers, as will'be fully described hereinafter and finallypointed out in the claims.

The invention consists, further, in certain novel features ofconstruction of the circuitclosers and ofthe tripping devices, as willalso be more fully described hereinafter and claimed. 1

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sideelevation of a portionof a railway-track and a locomotive provided with my signaling Fig. 2 isa plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, drawn on a largerscale, of the tripping devices. Fig; 4. is a rear elevation, ,on alarger scale, of the circuitc,losers. Fig. 5 shows the circuit-closersin rear elevation and illustrates in diagram the circuits of the sameand the signaling devices located in the cab of the locomotive. Fig. 6

is a side view, partly in vertical section, of

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In carrying out my invention the track to be covered is divided into .aplurality of sections or blocks, and at-each end of each section orblock is arranged a trippingdevice, the tripping devices ofeachrsectionbeing connected with each other, as by a chain or other means.- locatedin the path of and areadapted to trip These tripping device'sare certaincircuit-closers carried by the locomo I .tive; These circuit-closers arecomposed of a plurality of fixed and-swinging blades and are located atopposite sides of the locomotive,

' The circuit-closer a, Fig. 4, which is at the right-hand side of alocomotivein otherwords, uponthat side of the locomotive normally at thesame side-of the track as that at which the tripping devices arelocatedcomprises an inverted- U -shaped frame b c d,'rigf idly securedto the locomotive and provided with a rigid'intermediate stop-blade 6,also projecting downwardly, parallel with the downwardly-projectingfixed or rigid blades b and o.

To the upper or body portion 01 of the frame is hinged at w a dependingblade f, which overlaps the blade I), said blade f being permittedthereby swinging movement in one direction, but not in the other. 7 Asecond swinging blade g' is also pivoted at its upper end to the bodyportion of the frame and is adapted to swing in the same direction asthe blade said blade g being limited in its opposite movement by thefixed or rigid blade 0. Between the blades f andg is located a swingingblade 71, which is also pivoted to the frame andadapted to swing in likedirection, its movementin the opposite direction being limited by theintermediate fixed stopblade e. Said blade his preferably shorter thanthe blades f and g and is arranged adj acent the blade f and not betweenthe blades e and g. Upon the opposite side of the frame is pivoted atits upper end a swinging blade t of approximately the same length as h,but located adjacent theblade g and not between the blades 6 and f. Theblade 6 serves as a stop for limiting the swinging movement of bothblades h and 2'. Upon the opposite sides of the locomotive is arranged asecond circuitcloser, constructed, like the first, of rigid and movablemembers. The outer blades Z2 and o are fixed. Pivoted to swing at thesame side of the circuit-closer as the bladefof the circuit-closer a isa swinging bladef, adja- -cent the fixed blade I); also to the hinge wof the body d of this circuit-closer a is pivoted to swing in the samedirection ablade 9; also a shorter blade 77, whose motion in oppositedirection is limited by the fixed blade 0. Pivoted to swing at theopposite side of this circuit-closer a is a blade 2', corresponding tothe blade 5 and limited in its swinging movement by a fixed stop-bladee. Each of the bladesfgf g is provided with atubular contact-socket 0,Figs. 5 and 6. By means of a suitable bracket m contact-pins m aresupported in the path of and located to enter the contact-sockets of thebladesfand g. A similar bracket supports in like manner contact-pins pfor engagement by the sockets of the blades f g in their swingingmotion. Upon the cab is arranged a signal device 7c such, for example,as an electric bell. Wires 3 4 connect, respectively, the blades g gwith one binding-post 7c. of said bell. Another sig- 11aldevice-such,for example, as a similar bell Z'-is also located on the cab of thelocomotive, and wires 5 and 6 connect the contact-sockets, respectively,of the blades fand f with one binding-post Z of said signal device. Thetwo contact-pins m are connected through the bracket m by means of awire '7 with the negative pole of an electric battery or other suitablesource of electric current 9, and the pins p are similarly connectedthrough the bracket 1.? by means of a wire 8. A wire 10 connects thepositive pole of the battery 9 with the binding post 7a" of the bell l5,and a wire 11 connects the positive pole of said battery with thebindingpost Z of the bell Z. Arranged adjacent the track and in the pathof either of said circuitclosers-i. 6., in the path of onecircuit-closer when the locomotive is running in one direction and inthe path of the opposite circuitcloser when the locomotive is running inthe opposite direction-4s a tripping mechanism composed of twoconnect-ed tripping devices, one at each end of the block to beprotected. The tripping device at one end of the block is composed of ashaft q, suitably mounted in horizontal position, and tripping-arms moun ted on said shaft and arranged in two sets. The first set of armscomprises an arm 2', rigidly connected with a sleeve 7, loosely mountedon said shaft, and an arm 1", also connected rigidly with said sleeve atright angles to the arm 1-. A second set consists of arms 8 s, alsoarranged at right angles and both rigidly connected to a sleeve s",loosely mounted on the spindle q. A cross-bar 'r is connected rigidly tothe arm 7- and extends across into the path of the arm 8.

The tripping device at the opposite end of the block comprises similararms 0' 0", rigidly connected to a corresponding sleeve 1", mountedloosely upon a corresponding horizontal shaft (1, and arms .9 s, alsoarranged at right anglesand rigidly connected with the sleeve .9, alsoloosely mounted upon the same shaft q. A cross-bar r extends from thearm '1' into the path of the arm .9. The two tripping devices arearranged face to face-in other words,so that when the arms 0' and s ofboth devices are vertical, as shown in Fig. 3, the arms '1" s of theopposite devices extend away from each other-in other words, in oppositedirec tion from the shafts q. Suitable brackets a limit the movement ofthe sets of trippingarms at this point, whereby the arms 7' and s of theother device are permitted to swing inwardly-that is, in directiontoward the center of the block or toward each other-but not outwardly,and the cross-bars 7' are in both cases arranged so as to extend infront of the arms 5 at the inner and not at the outer sides. Connectedto each sleeve 0"" is an operating rod 7", said rods preferablyextending inwardly-a'. 6., toward the center of the blocks or towardeach other-and not outwardly when the parts are in position shown in Fi3. A chain '6 is connected with the rod q"' passes over a pulley t, andis provided at its end with a weight 15", said pulley being so locatedthat this mechanism acts as means tending to return the tripping deviceto which it is connected into the position shown in Fi 1 and retain thesame therein. From the operating-rod r a chain it extends in oppositedirection over pulleys u and thence to the operating-rod r of theopposite tripping device, from which a chain u extends in oppositedirection over a pulley o and is provided with a weight n, which serveswhen the chain it between the two devices is relaxed to actuate thedevice to which itis connected to swing the arms 7 and s of said devicefrom Vertical or tripping into horizontal or nontripping position.

The tripping mechanism described is ar-= ranged at such portion of thetrack as to be normally in the path of the circuit-closer a. Forexample, when the locomotive is moving in the direction indicated by thearrow at the upper portion of Fig. 6 the circuit-closer a is arranged onthe right-hand side of the 1ocomotive, with the blades f, g, and h attherear side and the tripping mechanism at the right hand side of thetrack in the path of said circuit-closer. In such a case the oppositecircuit-closer a is arranged in corresponding position at the oppositeside of the locomotive in such position that the blades f g h swing inthe same direction-z.- e., rearwardly-as the blades f, g, and It, saidcontact-closers under these circumstances presenting the appearance ofFig. at when looked at from the rear. Such being the general features ofthe construction, it remains to so arrange the fixed and swinging bladesof both circuit- TIO closers so that whenthe train is moving in thenormal direction, as indicated in Fig. 6,

r the circuit-closer'a will cooperate with the tion contraryto thatshown in Fig. 6, so that I the circuit-closer a,"in the path of whichthetripping devices arethen located, will coop]- the tripping device at theoppositeend'ofthe crate with said trippingdevices to setthe 1 same insuch positionas toindicate toa train entering the block that thetrack'is-not clear.

For this purpose the arm 3 ofthe tripping device at the normal enteringend of the block is arrangedso as to be when in-trippingpo sition, asshown in Fig; 3, in the path ofthe blade 1 the arm 7* in the pathoftheblade'b, thearm 'r in thepath of the'b'la'de f, the arm 8 in the pathof the blade g'. The arm 8 of block is .located'when intripping positionin the path of the blade handthe arm r inthe "path-ofitheblade b.'With'regard to thecircuit-closer a, the arm .r of theftrippinglde vicenormallyat the outgoing endofthe sectionorblockis"locatedfin-the path-ofthe blade f and the arm sin the pathofthe blade/i. ln'Figs. 7, 8, 9, and-1Othetripping ,deviccsiatthe normal ingoingan'd-departure ends-of theblock are lettered, respectively,

a and y. Fig.7 illustrates the position of the parts when thetri'ppingmechanism haszbeen actuated-by a locomotive entering the block in normaldirection- The blades/i and b strike the arms 3 and 4", respectively, ofthe-tripping-{device 00, thereby bringing the arms rand 3 intotripping-position and the arm 7" of the tripping device 3/ into trippingposition, the arm 1' of; said device being "turned out oftripping-position thereby, but the arm swingingthe same inupwa'rddirectiom-as in dicatedin Fig. '6, until. the, socket'o of each ofsaidswinging blades engages the corre-f sponding contact-pin mm This closesthe electriccircuits through the two signal (165-. vices'kf and Z, whichbytne'i'r operation indicate to the engineer that vthere' is a trainahead in the same block, which entered that blockin the same direction.Assuming that instead of a train entering atthe rear oneenters the blockon the same trackv as the 10-- 'comotive 2, but in front'of the same,'as2,

Fig. 9, the blade f strikes the arm-rand is s remainingin its original.position, as shown.

The two blades 1' and I) being non-yielding give no signal to theengineer through the signaldevices 7c 1. Assuming thepartstobe in thisposit-ion, a locomotive z enters .theblockbe- 'fore the first locomotivehas passedout of the same, as in Fig.8. Under-these circumstancesthe'arms r and s of-the trippingdevice w actuate the swinging bladesfand c,

thrown thereby intocontactwiththe corresponding pin 19, thereby soundingthe signal devices Z, the blade-t" strikes the-arm s and swings the setofarms 3 8 thereby, so that thearms' is in vertical position, theswinglngmovements of said set being arrested by the abutmentzof arm 3against icross-bar'rt The-actuation of the signal Z. alone indicatestothe' engineer that he is entering a block' into which a'train has.entered in :the oppo site directio n.- Should athird locomotiveenterthejblock ill-the same direction'. as the 10- l comotive z, thearms .r 's. will now trip the blades f g ofi thejcircuit-closer a, ofthe ing 1 8o coming locomotive, thereby closing the air was, of bothalarm devices insaid locomotive. On the other-"hand,'shouldth'eparts bea in position shown in Fig.- 3'3l1dth6 locomo-" j i tive z, travelinginopposite direction to 1o-- 1 .co'motive z,-b e the first toenterlthe-blockl blade t"..will strike the'arm s,.therebyswing-;- i ing,by-me'ans of the cross-bar r both sets of tripping-arms, so thatthefarms r;s *are-in tripping position and actuating the set oftripping-arms rr' of the-opposite tripping de-j vice ac, so thatthearm-r' is placed in jtripping position; The'farms '.0f,the adjacentset 6 s remainsin tripping position; The lo-' .comotive 'znowjenter-ingoverthe tripping;

device m, the arm r strikes the blade f, there;

by closing the" oircuit through the-bell I";

Thearm's is struck bytheblade i,"whereby 1 l the's-etoftripping-jarmsss'.is turned, its mo; rtion being limited'by thecross-bar r of-the, f 1 ;,IOO only'one actuated, and i the engineerofthe v locomotives is informed that atrain moving 1 in-"contrarydirection'has alreadyentered'the adjacent set. Thus thesignal deviceZisthe block." In case no train enters the'block from either directionthe-locomotive z jupon ,pass-' ing out. over the tripping device zjsetsthe entire tripping mechanism inits normal-position by strikingwit-hits'fixedblade the arm r and with the swingingblade h the-arm s.-

In case the locomotive apasses out ofthe block over the sametrippingdevice 00 over which it"entered thetwo blades f and g strikethe-two arms 1" s",-'there by forcing them in backward directionandbringing the 'arm r' of the device y again into vertical position bymeans of "the connecting chain connecting the; two devices. For greatersecurity the- :varions sections'm'ay'bej overlapped. This-is I indicatedin Fig, 11, 'in Whichx y 0b"{'y m 31""i'1idicate, respectively, theoppositely-an 'ra'nge'd co'nnect'edtripping-devices.- V. Having thusdescribed my invention, 1-

claimas new andzd'esi-re-to secure by Letters Y 1. The "combination,"with railway-loco closer ,comprisingfa plurality of fixed and.swingin'gblades, contact-pins adapted-to'be engaged by certain of saidswinging blades,

1 5 3 motive,1of two alarmfldevices', a source of p electricity,twowcircuit-closers .monntedre- .spectively in corresponding(positionson;op- I" posite sides ofthe locomotive, eachj circuity I30 1 &

one of said alarm devices and the source of electricity, andconducting-wires connecting the other of said swinging blades in circuitwith the other alarm device, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a railway-locomotive, of a circuit-closerconsisting of a plurality of fixed and swinging blades and connectedtripping devices located one at 'each end of the block and comprisingeach a horizontal shaft and two sets of tripping-arms mounted rotatablyon each shaft, each set comprising two arms arranged at right angles,operating-rods, one for each tripping device, connected each with one ofsaid sets of arms, a chain connecting said operatingrods, and cross-armsprojecting each from an arm of one of said sets into the path of an armof the adjacent set, substantially as set forth.

3. In a railway signal apparatus, a forked circuit-closer adapted to becarried on the 10- comotive and provided with outer fixed blades and anintermediate fixed stop-blade, a se ries of hinged blades, one of whichis adapted to swing in one direction and the others in the oppositedirection, certain of said blades being limited in movement by saidstopblade, contact devices on some of said hinged blades, and contactdevices on the locomotive adapted to codperate with said contact devicesof the blades, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a railway signal apparatus, a forked circuit-closer adapted to becarried on the 10- comotive and provided with a fixed depending stopblade, hinged blades adapted to swing in one direction, a hinged bladeadapted to swing in the opposite direction, con tact-sockets on two ofsaid first-named swinging blades, and contact-pins on the locomotiveadapted to engage said sockets, signal devices on the locomotive, asource of electricity, an d conducting-wires connecting said signaldevices, source of electricity and said contact sockets and pins,substantially as set forth.

5. In a railway signal apparatus, the combination with a circuit-closerconsisting of a plurality of fixed and hinged depending blades, andcontact devices on the locomotive adapted to codperate with certain ofsaid hinged blades, of a tripping device consisting of a horizontalspindle, two sets of trippingarms arranged rotatably thereon andcomposed each of two tripping-arms, the arms of each device beingarranged one after the other lengthwise of the shaft in positionscorresponding to the hinged and fixed blades, and an operating-rodconnected with one of said sets, substantially as set forth.

6. In a railway signal apparatus, the com bination, with acircuit-closer consisting of a pluralityof fixed and hingeddependingblades and contact devices on the locomotive adapted tocooperate with certain of said hinged blades, of a tripping deviceconsisting of a horizontal spindle, two sets of tripping-arms arrangedrotatably thereon and composed each of two tripping-arms, the arms ofeach device being arranged one after the other lengthwise of the shaft,in positions corresponding to the hinged and fixed blades, anoperating-rod connected with one of said sets, and a crossarm extendingfrom an arm of said set into the path of an arm of the adjacent set,substantially as set forth.

7. In a railway signal apparatus, the com bination of twooppositely-arranged tripping devices, consisting each of two sets ofangularly-arranged tripping-arms,operating-rods, one for one set of eachdevice, connected therewith, cross-arms extending from said sets at theinner side, each into the path of the adjacent set, guide-pulleysbetween said tripping devices, a chain passing over said pulleys andconnecting said operating-rods, chains connected one with each rod andextending therefrom in opposite direction to the connecting-chain,pulleys over which said chains are guided,and weights on said chains,substantially as set forth.

8. In a railway signal apparatus, the combination of a forkedcircuit-closer adapted to be carried upon the locomotive and comprisinga depending fixed stop-blade, a series of hinged blades, one of which isadapted to swing in one direction and the others in the oppositedirection, certain of said blades being limited in movement by saidstop-blade, contact-sockets on certain of said blades, contact-pins onthe locomotive,adapted to engage the contact-sockets of the blades,alarm devices on the locomotive, controlled by said circuit-closer, andtwo oppositely-arranged connected tripping devices comprising each ahorizontal spindle, two sets of tripping-arms mounted rotatably thereon,and operatingrods, one for one set of each device, connected therewith,the tripping-arms of said devices being arranged at different distancesfrom the rail in the path of said fixed and swinging blades and adaptedto cooperate with the same, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

LAURENT GACIIET.

WV 1 tnesses:

EMILE LEOBERT, EDWARD P. MAoLnAN.

ICC)

